Inter-Faith
The Commission on Faith and Witness is involved in inter-faith work by representation on the following groups. In addition, Commission members are currently engaging in a reflection on the approach of each of our churches to inter-faith work, beginning with the question: "On what theological basis does your church engage in inter-faith dialogue and work?" This reflection will be on-going over the ensuing months.
New! Interfaith Resource Kit
Bibliography
Information & Denominational Materials
Interfaith Groups and Centres in Canada
Interfaith Resource Kit
Resources for Children, Youth, and Young Adults
For Christian congregations or other groups wishing to begin or continue their engagement in interfaith conversations. This package of references to resources of various kinds can be downloaded here. If you would like to recommend other resources to us, please let us know by contacting the Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness.
Canadian Christian-Jewish Consultation
This body has been in existence for about 25 years. It is a table at which meet representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) and its member churches, which may send representatives. The Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness is a member of CCJC.
Beginning in 1977, when it was established by the CJC, CCCB and CCC, the Consultation has met three or four times a year. Discussion has focused on such practical issues as refugees and immigration, famine relief in Africa, and proselytism on university campuses. In partnership with the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto, the CCJC has sponsored symposia inviting Jewish, Christian and Muslim reflection on such topics as: The Spiritual Significance of Jerusalem; the Spiritual Significance of Suffering; The Meaning of Holiness and Virtue; What is the Heart of Faith. In 1999, the CCJC produced a liturgy for use by Christians at Yom Kippur in the year 2000.
Over the past few years, the CCJC has felt the impact of events in the Middle East and members have engaged in some serious conversations. The CCJC is currently reflecting on anti-Semitism, is considering how Christian and Jewish communities in Canada can help each other understand various perspectives in the Middle East, and is reflecting together on approaches to theological anthropology.
National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee.
This Committee was formed over fifteen years ago. Its membership comprises several Muslim and Christian national organizations, including the Council of the Muslim Community of Canada, Canadian Islamic Congress, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Islamic Circle of North America, Council of Imams, United Church of Canada, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Presbyterian Church of Canada, and The Canadian Council of Churches (including the Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness). The Committee is intended to be a forum for the exchange of mutual concerns between Muslims and Christians and their official representatives. The committee meets four or five times each year to discuss areas of sensitivity or conflict and issues of common interest. Although the committee cannot speak for any of the member organizations, it does urge the representatives to return to their organizations with a position or policy and have their organizations act on the position taken by the Committee.
In the past, the NMCLC has taken on projects such as "Families Meeting Families," in which Muslim and Christian families were paired and requested to get to know each other and their faiths through social interaction. The Committee has sponsored a tour across Canada by senior Muslims and Christian representatives to encourage the formation of local Muslim-Christian dialogue groups. One of the most successful programs has been the Recognition Dinner, in which a Muslim and a Christian are recognized for their contribution in furthering understanding between Muslims and Christians.
Some of the recent matters the committee has urged its member organizations to take up include: issuing statements to Canadian government officials against war in Iraq; urging a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine; advocating for the poor and homeless in Canada; working with the United Church of Canada in the preparation of their document on Muslim-Christian understanding, That We May Know Each Other.
World Religions Canada
WRC has come to exist under the aegis of the Canadian chapter of the World Conference on Religion for Peace (WCRP/Canada). It recognizes a missing component in Canadian inter-religious life, namely, the model of focused regional and local inter-religious councils. Therefore, in the past two years, WRC has come into being, and has begun to consider how its mandate and functioning might unfold. WRC will address issues of an ethical or moral nature in Canadian society in a way that will provide inspired and provocative leadership to politicians, members of religious communities, and the general population; it will speak solely on its own behalf.
Inter-Faith Liaison Committee
A sub-committee of the Commission on Faith and Witness, this committee brings together those doing inter-faith work on behalf of our member churches. It is a meeting-place in which we share concerns, activities, events and interests, and consider together the foundations and developments of our inter-faith work.
New! Interfaith Resource Kit
Bibliography
Information & Denominational Materials
Interfaith Groups and Centres in Canada
Interfaith Resource Kit
Resources for Children, Youth, and Young Adults
For Christian congregations or other groups wishing to begin or continue their engagement in interfaith conversations. This package of references to resources of various kinds can be downloaded here. If you would like to recommend other resources to us, please let us know by contacting the Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness.
Canadian Christian-Jewish Consultation
This body has been in existence for about 25 years. It is a table at which meet representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC), the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada, and The Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) and its member churches, which may send representatives. The Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness is a member of CCJC.
Beginning in 1977, when it was established by the CJC, CCCB and CCC, the Consultation has met three or four times a year. Discussion has focused on such practical issues as refugees and immigration, famine relief in Africa, and proselytism on university campuses. In partnership with the Newman Centre at the University of Toronto, the CCJC has sponsored symposia inviting Jewish, Christian and Muslim reflection on such topics as: The Spiritual Significance of Jerusalem; the Spiritual Significance of Suffering; The Meaning of Holiness and Virtue; What is the Heart of Faith. In 1999, the CCJC produced a liturgy for use by Christians at Yom Kippur in the year 2000.
Over the past few years, the CCJC has felt the impact of events in the Middle East and members have engaged in some serious conversations. The CCJC is currently reflecting on anti-Semitism, is considering how Christian and Jewish communities in Canada can help each other understand various perspectives in the Middle East, and is reflecting together on approaches to theological anthropology.
National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee.
This Committee was formed over fifteen years ago. Its membership comprises several Muslim and Christian national organizations, including the Council of the Muslim Community of Canada, Canadian Islamic Congress, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Islamic Circle of North America, Council of Imams, United Church of Canada, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Presbyterian Church of Canada, and The Canadian Council of Churches (including the Associate Secretary for Faith and Witness). The Committee is intended to be a forum for the exchange of mutual concerns between Muslims and Christians and their official representatives. The committee meets four or five times each year to discuss areas of sensitivity or conflict and issues of common interest. Although the committee cannot speak for any of the member organizations, it does urge the representatives to return to their organizations with a position or policy and have their organizations act on the position taken by the Committee.
In the past, the NMCLC has taken on projects such as "Families Meeting Families," in which Muslim and Christian families were paired and requested to get to know each other and their faiths through social interaction. The Committee has sponsored a tour across Canada by senior Muslims and Christian representatives to encourage the formation of local Muslim-Christian dialogue groups. One of the most successful programs has been the Recognition Dinner, in which a Muslim and a Christian are recognized for their contribution in furthering understanding between Muslims and Christians.
Some of the recent matters the committee has urged its member organizations to take up include: issuing statements to Canadian government officials against war in Iraq; urging a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine; advocating for the poor and homeless in Canada; working with the United Church of Canada in the preparation of their document on Muslim-Christian understanding, That We May Know Each Other.
World Religions Canada
WRC has come to exist under the aegis of the Canadian chapter of the World Conference on Religion for Peace (WCRP/Canada). It recognizes a missing component in Canadian inter-religious life, namely, the model of focused regional and local inter-religious councils. Therefore, in the past two years, WRC has come into being, and has begun to consider how its mandate and functioning might unfold. WRC will address issues of an ethical or moral nature in Canadian society in a way that will provide inspired and provocative leadership to politicians, members of religious communities, and the general population; it will speak solely on its own behalf.
Inter-Faith Liaison Committee
A sub-committee of the Commission on Faith and Witness, this committee brings together those doing inter-faith work on behalf of our member churches. It is a meeting-place in which we share concerns, activities, events and interests, and consider together the foundations and developments of our inter-faith work.
